Cigarette-case.



V. NIVUIS.

CIGARETTE CASE. APFLICAHON mu: sin. 25. m4.

Patent/ed July 3, 1917.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

VICTOR NIVOIS, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

CIGARETTE-CASE.

Application filed September 25, 1914.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, VICTOR Nivois, a subject of the President of France, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Cigarettefases. of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in containers such as cases for cigarettes, cigars or other articles which are removed one by one or in small quantities from the case. The invention relates particularly to the type of case which is formed of two sections adapted to swing apart to open the case. the interior of the case being provided with a holder for the cigarettes or other articles.

A principal object of the invention is to provide such a case with improved means for maintaining the holder in an interme diate position between the sections of the case as they open apart so that if the case is opened in the hand the cigarettes may be readily removed from the holder.

Such cases are often opened Wide so that the sections of the case extend in opposite directions from their point of connection so that the case can lie open upon a horizontal support such as a table. A further object of my invention is to provide such a case with improved means for maintaining the holder in an upright position when the case is completely open.

A further object of the invention is to maintain the holder in position in a yielding manner so that if desired, the holder can be moved independently against either of the sections of the case Without injury to it.

A further object of the invention is to produce a very simple and efficient case for cigarettes or other articles.

Further objects of the invention will appear more clearly hereinafter.

The invention consists in the general combination of parts and features hereinafter described. all of which contribute to produce an eliicient case, or container.

A preferred embodiment of my invention will be particularly described in the followin; specification while the broad scope of my invention will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a perspective of a preferred form of the case showing the same in its Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 3, 191 7.

Serial No. 863.487.

completely open position as though lying upon a horizontal support such as a table; certain parts of this view are broken away so as to more completely disclose the invention.

Fig. '2 is a fragmentary vertical section upon an enlarged scale taken at thepoint of connection between the sections of the case and particularly illustrating the means for attaching the holder in position and for maintaining it in its position between the two sections.

Fig. 1 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but upon a smaller scale and particularly illustrating the manner in which the holder of the cigarettes may fold against either side or section of the case.

Fig. l is a side elevation of the preferred form of a part of the holder of the case.

Fig. I is a perspective of a shoe which is preferably embodied in the device.

H Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section through the shoe shown in Fig. 5 and also illustrating the parts associated with the shoe.

Fig. 7 is a perspective of another form of the case showing the same lying open and particularly illustrating the modified form for the holder, a portion of which is broken away.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation partly broken away and partly in section showing another form of holder.

Fig. 9 is an end elevation of the holder shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is an end elevation of the case showing the same in a folded or closed condition.

Referring more particularly to the parts, 11 and 12 represent two sections of any desired form which are adapted to close together to form a closed case having substantially the form indicated in Fig. 10. said sections being preferably hingcdly connected as by a hinge connection 13 on one thereof which may be formed integrally with the pintle by bending up the ends thereof into the same plane.

I prefer to provide a holder or carrier for the cigarettes and construct the case so that when the sections of the case swing apart the holder is moved into an interi'nediate position between the case sections. In order to accomplish this the cigarettes 14 are preferably supported in a holder preferably including a carrier 18 in which the cigarettes are laced, and a shoe 19 mounted on the pintle.

he preferred form of the shoe 19 is illustrated in Fig. 5. It preferably consists of a small roll of metal which has a longitudinal bore 20 to receive the pintle loosely. I provide means for yieldingly holding this shoe in position such that when the sections of the case age swung apart it will be held in mid position and will hold the container 18 in mid position.

For this purpose I prefer to provide resilient means such as the two springs 21 which are of helical form and disposed around the pintle adjacent each end of the shoe. These coils or springs 21 may be made of a single wire connected by an integral bar 22 extending through a small bore in the shoe, the outer ends of the spring '21 having lateral extensions 24. which preferably engage respectively with a hinged edge of each section so that the spring force tends to swing the two sections apart, that is, it tends to open the case.

The other part of the holder, namely the container 18, is preferably in yielding engagement with this shoe. For this purpose,

prefer to provide an interengaging recess and projection and I may form the recess 25 on the upper side of the shoe and form the container so that its lower edge will engage this recess.

The container is preferably open above and provided with retaining walls which are of different heights or widths so as to facilitate the guiding of the cigarettes in position in placing them in the container.

This carrier may have any desired form adapted to hold one or two rows of cigarettes. When adapted to hold two rows of cigarettes, I prefer to construct the carrier with a central plate or wall 26 the edges of which are formed into the sleeves 27 grasping the extensions 17 from the pintle 16.

In order to attach the movable side walls 28 of the carrier, I prefer to provide the lower end of the plate 26 with a sleeve '29 which rigidly holds in position a bar 30 which projects from both ends of the sleeve 29 and forms a pivot and spring for the sleeves 31 and 31 formed on the lower e es of the side walls of the plates 28. .he sleeve 31 of each side wall 28 which is disposed near the end of the bar 30 is rigidly attached to the bar with the wall '28 against the plate 26 while the sleeve 31 is loose.

From this arrangement, when the wall '28 is swung down. or moied away from the middle wall .26. there is a torsional strain developed in the bar 30 which tends to return it to its normal. position. The walls :28 are preferably formed of light metal which may be made ornamental by means of openings 3'3, and the ends are preferably turned in so as to produce points on the side walls which will engage the middle wall en.

The case is preferably provided with a catch 33 of any suitable construction which holds the sections of the case together w hen the case is closed.

I prefer to construct the case so that the case sections will swing wide open so as to lie extended in substantially the same plane. This adapts the case to lie open on a table with the cigarette carrier projecting up and held yieldingly. That is the carrier can be moved toward either of the ease sections.

With the case embodying this invention. it is evidentthat when the case is opened. the sections 11 and 12 will swing apart and the shoe 19, through the operation of its recess 25. will yieldingly hold the cigarette carrier 18 in an interniediate position between the sections 11 and 12: to he more speeilie, it will hold the carrier in mid position in the angle formed between the two seetions 11 and 12 as they open. If the cigarette case is lying open in the position illustrated in Fig. 1, the container may be pushed over toward either of the sections 11, or 12 by using sullicient force to disengage the lower ed e of the carrier from the recess 25. When the case is open as illustrated in Fig. 1. evidently it can lie flat upon the table and if desired either of the case sections 11 or 12 may be used temporarily as an ash tra l hasmuch as the shoe 19-is not attached directly to the pintle, but may be said to have a floating attachment to the pintle, it is necessary to prevent the shoe from being rotated with the carrier when moved down as just suggested above. To do this I prefer to provide means on the shoe for engaging the sections of the case which prevents such a rotation if the case is lying open.

For this purpose I prefer to provide the inner or lower side of the shoe with a projection which may be in the form of a longitudinal rib. Vhen the case is lying open, this rib or projection lies between the adjacent edges of the sections 11 and 12. as shown most clearly in Fig. 2. Evidently this projection 33 will prevent the rotation of the shoe and permit the carrier to move independently of it.

On each side of the recess :25 the shoe is provided with a longitudinal shoulder 34 and these shoulders insure that if the case is closed. after swinging over the carrier, as suggested, the shoe will come into a mid position such as will bring the edge of the carrier into the recess Hence, when the case is reopened, the shoe will assume and maintain a neutral or mid position between the sections of the ease and will maintain the cigarette carrier projecting into the angle therebetween, as set forth above.

Instead of forming the cigarette carrier 18 so as to hold two rows of cigarettes, I may construct it so that it will hold a single row of cigarettes, at the same time arranging the walls of the carrier movable with respect to each other so that they can be separated if desired.

For this purpose. I may form the cigarette carrier as illustrated in Fig. 7, in which the carrier 35 is formed of two oppositely disposed corrugated plates 36 and 37, and one of these plates, as for instance the plate 36, is attached rigidly near its ends to extensions 38 which extend up from a pintle 39 which connects the sections it) and ll of the case. The plate 37 is then attached to thedower edge of the plate 36 by any suitablespring hinge 42.

If desired, however, the walls of the cigarette carrier may be rigid with each other, but in any event, one of the walls should be carried higher than the other so as to guide the cigarettes in placing the same in the carrier.

\Vhere both walls of the carrier are made rigid with each other, I prefer to employ the construction illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9, in which the cigarette carrier is made of a single plate bent or doubled at 43, and at the ends of this doubled corrugated plate, the extensions 44 of the pintle 5 are attached ri 'dly. The lower edge of the carrier of t is form ma be provided with downwardly off-set ri s or projection 47 which may engage the recess 48 in the shoe 49, as shown most clearly in Fig. 8.

It is understood that the embodiment of the invention described above is only one of the many forms or'einbodirnents the invention may take and I do not wish to be limited in the practice of my invention, nor in my claims, to the particular embodiment set forth.

What I claim is 1. A cigarette case comprising two sections having a hinge connection therebetween and adapted to swing apart, a pintle at said hinge connection and having extensions adjacent the extremities thereof, a holder for the cigarettes attached to said extensions and including a helical spring around said pintle for yieldingly maintaining said holder in an intermediate position between said sections'while swinging apart.

A cigarette case comprising two sec Lions having a hinge connection iherebetween and adapted to swing apart. a pintle at said hinge connection and inning extensions adjacent the extremities thereof, a holder for the cigarettes attached to said extensions and including a helical spring around said pintle l'or \ieldingl niaiutain ing said holder in an intermediate position between said SQCtlUll while swinging apart. said spring tending to force said scctiom apart.

3. A cigarette case comprising two sci. tions having a hinge connection therehetween and adapted to swing apart, a pintle attached to said hinge connection having extensions adjacent the extremities thereof. a holder including a cigarette carriernattachcd to the pintle and a shoe mounted on the said pintle, said shoe ha ing a spring yieldingly holding said shoe to maintain said carrier in an intermediate position between said sections when swung open. and tending to swing said sections with relation to each other.

4. A cigarette case, comprising two hingedly connected sections constructed to swing apart and lie in substantially the same plane, a pintle at the hinged connection, a holder connected with said pintle, means for maintaining the holder in an intermediate upright. position between said sectioiis when the latter lie open in substantial alinement, said means permitting the holder to move toward either of said sections, and a spring tending to swing the sections to open position and operating also to more said holder into its intermediate upright position between said sections when the latter are swung apart.

5. A cigarette case comprising two sec tions, :1 pintle hingedly connecting said sec tions, a cigarette holder attached to said pintle, including a shoe on said intle and a carrier for the cigarettes yiel ingly engaging said shoe and resilient means on said pintle for holding said shoe on said pintle.

6. A cigarette case comprising two sections; a pintle hingedly connecting said sections, a cigarette holder attached to said pintle includin a shoe on said pintle and a carrier for t e cigarettes yielding'lv engaging said shoe and a spring associated with said shoe and engaging said sections, tending to swing said sections apart and maintaining said shoe in a position to hold said carrier in an intermediate position between said sections.

7. A cigarette case comprising two sections, a pintle hingedly connecting said sections, a cigarette holder attached to said pintle including a shoe on said pintle and a carrier for the cigarettes. said carrier and said shoe having the one a projection and the other a recess engageable and disengageable from each other to permit a swinging movement of said carrier independently of said shoe and a spring on said pintle tending to swin said sections apart and yieldingly holding said shoe in position on said pintle.

.s. A cigarette ease comprising two sections, :1 pintle hingedly connecting said sections, a cigarette holder attached to said pintle including a shoe on said pintle and a carrier for the cigarettes, said carrier and said shoe having the one a projection and the other a recess engageable and disengageable from each other to permit a swinging movement of sa id carrier independently of said shoe, and a spring on said pintle tending to swing said sections apart and \'ieldingly holding said shoe in position on said pintle, said shoe having a projection engaging the said sections when fully open.

9. A cigarette case comprising two sections, at pintlc hingedly connecting said sections, a cigarette holder attached to Said pintle including a carrier and a shoe yieldingly engaging the same on said pintle and having a helical spring on said pintle connected with said shoe and engaging said sections, said spring tending to swing said sections apart and yieldingly holding said shoe in position on said pintle.

10. A cigarette case comprising two sections, :1 pintle hingedly connecting said sections, a cigarette holder attached to said pintle comprising a carrier having a retain ing wall attached to said pintle and a second retaining wall movable away from said first wall and a spring on said pintle engaging said sections tending to swing the same apart and yieldingly holding said holder in position.

11. A cigarette case comprising two sections, it pintle hingedly connecting said sections, a cigarette holder attached to said pintle including a carrier having a central retaining wall attached to said-pintle and movable retaining walls attached to said first retainin wall on opposite sides thereof, said 1101 or including a shoe on said pintle yieldingly engaging said carrier to hold up said carrier and means for ieldingly holding said shoe on saidlpinte.

'12.,Acigarette case comprising two sections, :1 pintle hingedly connecting said sections, a cigarette holder attached to said intlc including a carrier having a centre retaining wall attached to said pintle and movable retaining walls attached to said first retaining wall on opposite sides thereof, said holder including a shoe on said pintle vieldingly engaging said carrier to hold up said carrier and means for yieldingly holding said shoe on said pintle, said first named wall extending upwardly beyond the other wall to guide the cigarettes in placing the same in said carrier.

13. A cigarette case comprising two sections, :1 pintlc hingedly connecting said sec- (ions, a cigarette holder attached to said pintle and having oppositely disposed walls, one of which extends beyond the other to guide the cigarettes in placing the same between said walls, a spring around said pintlc engaging the sections of said case and tending to swing the same apart, said spring being connected with said holder and yieldingly maintaining the same in an intermediate position betwecn said sections.

14. A cigarette case comprising two sec tions. it pintle hingedly connecting said sections, a shoe loose on said pintle, a spring attached to the end of said shoe disposed around said pintle and engaging the said sections and tending to swing said sections apart, a cigarette carrier attached to said pintle, said shoe having a recess for yieldingly engaging said carrier to support the same, and arranged to be disengaged from said shoe to swing toward either of said sections.

15. A cigarette case comprising two sections, a pintle connecting said sections, said sections being adapted to lie extended in opposite directions from said pintle, a carrier for the cigarettes attached to the pintle, and means carried by the pintle and independent of the carrier but engageable by the latter, said means being adapted to engage the edges of the sections, when such sections are extended, to maintain the can rier .i'n an upright position between said sections.

16. A cigarette case comprising two sections having a hinge connection therebetween and adapted to lie extended in opposite directions from said hinge connection with said sections lying substantially in the same plane, a pintle at said hinge connec tion, a spring cotiperating with said sections to hold the same extended, a cigarette holder attached to said pintle having walls for re taining the cigarettes, one of said walls being 0 greater width than the other and projecting therebeyond to guide the cigarettes when being placed in said holder.

17. A cigarette case comprising two sections, a hinged connection therefor, a member loosely carried by the hinged connection, and a cigarette carrier connected with the hinged connection and adapted to yieldingly engage said member.

18. An article holding case of the character described, comprising a pair of dished case members having a hinge pintle connection' therebetween to permit said members to be brought together in closed relation and to be opened out in substantial alinernent with One another, an article holder supported to be incased between the case members when the latter are in closed position and to be yieldably held in an upright position when the case members are opened out, a spring coiled around the pintle and having its opposite enils hearing against the respective case members and operating to normally urge them apart, and a yieldable connection between the said spring and the article holder operating to cause the latter to assume an upright position when the case members are opened out, said connection permitting the holder to be moved bodily toward either case member by simple pressure exerted theroa-gainst in the 10 direction of :1 case member.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G." 

